Holiday Stress: Key Findings

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December 12, 2006

Holiday Stress

Introduction
The holidays are a busy time for people in the United States. From everyday stressors such as
working long hours to fighting traffic, caring for aging parents and paying the bills, just when you
think your life is stressful enough, the holidays arrive, adding an additional layer of stress to our
already busy lives. Depending on how well you manage stress, added responsibilities can have
a long-lasting impact on your body and your mind.
The objectives of this study were to explore stress during the holidays: the proximate and most
important causes of stress, how holiday stress differs from stress at other times of the year, and
what if anything people do differently during the holiday season to manage their stress.
1

Key Findings
Holiday stress has a particular impact on women, who take charge of many of the holiday
celebrations, particularly the tasks related to preparing meals and decorating the home.
Women are more likely than men to report an increase of stress during the holiday season.
In addition, they have a harder time relaxing during the holidays and are more likely to fall
into bad habits to manage their stress, like comfort eating.
Holiday stress has an impact on lower middle income individuals. This group feels the
weight of stress from work plus the seasonal rush to find time to get everything done. In
addition, their worries about money are heightened by the commercialism of the season and
the pressure to spend a lot of money.
Emotions run high during the holidays: people in the United States report feelings of love,
happiness, and high spirits. The most important aspects of the holidays are the opportunities
to connect or reconnect with friends and family.
People in the United States are more likely to feel their stress increases rather than
decreases during the holidays. The holidays can be a hectic time for many, and a lack of
money, a lack of time, and the hype and commercialism of the season causes increased
stress for people in this country.
During the holidays, stress takes on a different character than at other times of the year.
Men and women alike feel a duty to make the holidays the best they can for their families.

1
This memo is based on a random-digit dial telephone survey of 786 adults ages 18 and over. This survey was
conducted October 2-5, 2006 and carries a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points. For more methodological
details, please see Appendix A.
Holiday Stress 2

2006 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved. October 24, 2006
At the same time, commercialism and hype run rampant during the holidays as the shops
and the advertising pressure us to buy more and more expensive gifts during this, their
prime shopping season. The challenge becomes whether the family will have enough
money and time to execute the perfect holiday without running up credit card debt.
Workplace stress does not disappear. Although time off work is an important highlight of the
holidays, people worry about getting enough time off of work and that work responsibilities
might interfere with time spent with the family.
During the holidays people in the United States are much more likely to say they behave in
sedentary ways like watching TV, sleeping, eating and drinking to manage their stress.
Many individuals engage in comfort eating and other unhealthy behaviors to cope with their
stress levels.
Women are particularly vulnerable to increased stress around the holiday season. It is
women who shoulder the majority of the family burden for shopping and holiday celebrations
and they feel particular stress from the time crunch required to get everything done.
On Thanksgiving, many people in the United States sit down with family to have the
traditional Thanksgiving meal. However, women are nearly twice as likely as men to say
they will do the work necessary to pull off the multi-course turkey dinner: shopping for food,
cooking, and cleaning dirty dishes.
Lower middle income people in the United States feel a financial crunch around the
holidays. The struggle to afford and to purchase material goods is particularly acute for this
group. Lower middle income individuals feel the pressure of commercialism and hype
during the holidays, as well as the financial worries of being able to afford the holidays
without running up credit card debt.
For most people in this country, the New Year offers hope and a reminder that there is
always opportunity for change and self-improvement. In the New Year, most individuals
would like to improve their health or lose weight, get their finances in order, or improve their
relationships with family or a significant other.

Main Findings:
Many people reported looking forward to the holidays as a time of good cheer. The holidays are
the time of year when people report focusing more on their friends and on their family. Stress
does increase for certain groups during the holidays: those who feel particular responsibility for
the family, like women, and those who struggle to find the extra income to afford the holidays,
like lower middle income individuals.
The holidays are, first and foremost, a joyful time. During the holidays, people report many
positive emotions such as happiness (78 percent often), love (75 percent often), and high
spirits (60 percent often). (figure 1)

Holiday Stress 3


Figure 1: Positive Holiday Emotions (percent responding often and
often/sometimes)
Positive emotions during the holidays
24
40
60
75
78
Often
64 Extra energy
68 Connectedness
89 High spirits
90 Love
96 Happiness
Often/sometimes
How often do you experience any of the following during the holidays?

People love the holidays and look forward to spending time with loved ones, especially
family. In an open ended question about their favorite thing about the holidays, 53 percent
mention family and/or friends and 36 percent specifically mention spending more time with
family.
On the other hand there is no clear consensus about what is the least favorite part of the
holidays. In an open ended question about their least favorite thing about the holidays,
responses range from money to family to bad weather. Many dislike the commercial aspects
of the holidays, such as shopping (18 percent), money (13 percent), and commercialism (5
percent).
This reticence about the commercial aspects of the holidays also shows up in emotion felt
around the holiday season. Though positive emotions dominate, we also see mentions of
stress (61 percent often/sometimes) and fatigue (68 percent often/sometimes). (figure 2)

Holiday Stress 4


Figure 2: Negative Holiday Emotions (percent responding often and
often/sometimes)
Negative emotions during the holidays
68 25 Fatigue
35 7 Anger
7
7
9
11
20
Often
26 Loneliness
36 Sadness
28 Bloating
52 Irritability
61 Stress
Often/sometimes
How often do you experience any of the following during the holidays?

The hustle and bustle of the holidays has psychological consequences for some
respondents. More people are inclined to feel that their stress increases, rather than
decreases, around the holidays (38 percent increase versus 8 percent decrease). However,
most people (54 percent) feel that there is no difference in the amount of stress they
experience. (figure 3)

Holiday Stress 5


Figure 3: Holiday Stress (percent responding)
Holiday changes in stress level
38
8
54
Increase
Decreases
Stays the same
In general, during the holidays would you say the level of stress in your life increases, decreases, or stays about the
same?

Stress around the holidays is disproportionately felt by women. Women are more likely to
feel that stress increases around the holidays (44 percent of women report an increase of
stress during the holidays versus 31 percent of men). (figure 8) For women, stress may be
a function of greater family responsibilities during the holidays. Women say they have a
harder time relaxing during the holidays and are more likely to take on all of the tasks
associated with family celebrations, such as shopping, cooking, and cleaning.
People who are lower middle income ($30,000-$50,000 household income) are also more
likely to report an increase in stress during the holidays. Half (53 percent) of people in this
income range feel their stress increases during the holidays, versus 31 percent of people
with lower incomes and 40 percent of people who have household incomes over $50,000.
These individuals struggle to purchase and to afford material goods during the holiday
season putting together a memorable holiday for the family, paying for travel, giving the
kids the presents they want, and in the process building up credit card debt. Lower middle
income people are more likely than others to report concern with money and being able to
afford the holidays. (figure 13)
Young people (under 30) are more likely to report a decrease in stress during the holidays
(16 percent, versus 0 to 8 percent of older age groups). Respondents in this group were
less likely to have holiday responsibilities weighing on them, and reported being college
students, implying they would be on vacation.
Leading Stressors Money, Time, Commercialism
Holiday Stress 6

During the holiday season, people report worrying most about time, money and the
commercialism of the holidays. It is a hectic time of year, where, in addition to the daily
demands of work, home and health, people worry about gifts, shopping and cooking,
accommodating family and decorations. Under normal circumstances, many feel there are not
enough hours in the day; during the holidays, people feel pulled in even more directions. Many
simply wonder where the time will come from. The holidays are also a time of year for gift giving,
and people in the United States worry if they can afford the holidays or the credit card bill that
will follow.
The leading holiday stressors are time (67 percent often or sometimes), money (62 percent
often or sometimes), and commercialism or hype (53 percent often or sometimes). In
contrast, work and money are leading stressors during the regular year. (figure 4)

Figure 4: Holiday Stressors (percent responding often and often/sometimes)
9
10
17
17
14
16
26
27
30
0 20 40 60 80
My children
Travel
Increasing my credit card debt
Staying on a diet
Family gatherings
Pressure of giving or getting gifts
Commercialism or hype
Lack of money
Lack of time
Often Sometimes
Leading holiday stressors
I am going to read you a list of things that some people find stressful about the holidays. How often do each of the
following cause you stress during the holidays?
67
62
53
37
35
47
44
34
30

People who report increased levels of stress during the holidays are more likely than others
to worry about the financial demands of the holidays. People who report that their stress
increases around the holidays are more likely than others to worry about money (76 percent
often/sometimes versus 55 percent of people who report no change in stress) and having to
buy gifts (70 percent often/sometimes, versus 32 percent of people who report no change in
stress). People who feel more stress around the holidays also worry about finding the time
to get everything done (85 percent often/sometimes, versus 54 percent of people who report
no change in stress). (figure 5)

Holiday Stress 7


Figure 5: Holiday Concerns (percent responding increases and stays the same)
85
76
70
54
55
32
0
20
40
60
80
100
Lack of time Lack of money Pressure of gifts
Increases Stays the same
Holiday concerns (by change in stress)
I am going to read you a list of things that some people find stressful about the holidays. How often do each of the
following cause you stress during the holidays?

Work Stress Is Centered Around the Work-Family Balance During the Holidays
As we found in research on stress during the regular year, people report that work is a bigger
source of stress than the demands of home. The biggest work stressors are low salaries and
wages, lack of opportunities for advancement on the job, and workload.
2
These stressors
remain, but take on a different character when the holidays arrive. Financial issues are still
leading causes of stress, but people have the additional worry about how to pull off a successful
holiday given their financial challenges. During the holidays, people also feel pressure to
participate in holiday celebrations at work, worry about work intruding onto family life and
holiday celebrations, or if they will get enough time to spend with family.
During the year people primarily worry about the economic aspects of their jobs. People
note that low salaries have an impact on their stress levels (47 percent very or somewhat
significant impact). Leading work stressors also include too heavy a work load (45 percent
very or somewhat significant impact) and lack of opportunity for advancement (41 percent
very or somewhat significant impact).
3

During the holiday season, work remains the primary cause of stress for most people in the
United States. The majority (56 percent) feel that work is their greatest source of stress,
versus 29 percent who feel the stress primarily comes from home. (figure 6)

2
Survey conducted January 12-24, 2006, of 2,152 adults, 18 years or older, including 403 African Americans and
434 Hispanics, by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.
3
January 12-24, 2006 survey.
Holiday Stress 8


Figure 6: Source of Stress (percent responding)
Greatest source of stress: home or work
56
29
9
5
Stress at work
Stress at home
Both
Neither
Which do you think is the greatest source of stress: stress at work, or stress at home?

During the holidays, however, sources of work stress change. People worry about whether
work obligations will creep into their holiday celebrations; a third (34 percent) cite this as a
very significant or somewhat significant impact on their stress during the holidays. Similarly,
a third (31 percent) feel stress from not being able to get enough time off at work to enjoy
the holidays. (figure 7)
Holiday Stress 9


Figure 7: Work Stressors (percent responding very significant and very
significant/somewhat significant)
4
8
6
8
7
11
14
12
0 10 20 30 40
Very significant Somewhat significant
Work stressors during the holidays
I am going to read you a list of statements people say impact stress levels in their work during the holiday season. For
each one, please tell me if it has a very significant, somewhat significant, not very significant, or not at all significant
impact on your stress level at work during the holiday season.
My work obligations might creep into
holiday celebrations
I might not be able to get enough time off
at work to enjoy the holidays
I won't get paid enough to afford the
holidays
There is too much pressure to participate
in holiday parties and celebrations
I won't meet year-end expectations at the
job
There is too much pressure to buy gifts
for co-workers
I might lose hours at work that I need to
pay bills
I might get laid off after the holidays
31
34
28
20
19
24
20
9

Just as money-related subjects are leading stressors at work year-round, money also has a
strong impact on stress during the holidays. More than a quarter (28 percent) say that worry
about getting paid enough to afford the holidays impacts their stress level during the
holidays. (figure 7)
Women Feel More Stress During the Holidays Because of Responsibilities at Home
As we noted in previous research for the APA, many women struggle with the stress created by
the double shift of work and family responsibilities. During the holidays, women have different
and additional demands upon them, especially during family celebrations. While these added
responsibilities during the holidays are not always thought of as stressful, they nonetheless
make it difficult for women to relax.
Women are more likely than men to report that their stress increases during the holidays (44
percent, versus 31 percent of men). (figure 8)

Holiday Stress 10


Figure 8: Holiday Stress Changes by Gender (percent responding)
44
51
31
12
57
4
0
20
40
60
Increases Decreases Stays the same
Women Men
Holiday stress change (by gender)
In general, during the holidays would you say the level of stress in your life increases, decreases, or stays about the same?

During the holidays, women are more likely than men to feel stress from a lack of money (69
percent often/sometimes versus 55 percent of men) and pressure to give or get gifts (51
percent often/sometimes versus 42 percent of men). There is also evidence that women are
more likely than men to feel stress from a lack of time (69 percent often/sometimes versus
63 percent of men).
4
(figure 9)

4
This difference is significant at the 0.10 level, rather than the customary 0.05 level.
Holiday Stress 11


Figure 9: Holiday Stressors by Gender (percent responding often/sometimes)
69 69
55
42
63
51
0
20
40
60
80
Lack of money Pressure of giving or
getting gifts
Lack of time
Women Men
Holiday stressors (by gender)
I am going to read you a list of things that some people find st ressful about the holidays. How often do each of the
following cause you stress during the holidays?*
*Value denotes percent of respondents answering total often or sometimes

Men and women alike feel an obligation to tend to their family during the holidays. Half of
men (49 percent) and women (51 percent) strongly agree that they feel a responsibility to
make sure everyone in their family is happy.
Though there are not attitudinal differences between men and women in their sense of
obligation towards family, there are strong behavioral differences between men and women.
Women are much more likely to shoulder the work burden during family celebrations.
During Thanksgiving, women are nearly twice as likely to report that they will cook (66
percent of women versus 35 percent of men), shop for food (52 percent of women versus 32
percent of men), and clean dirty dishes (70 percent of women, versus 41 percent of men).
Men, on the other hand, are nearly twice as likely as women to report that they will watch
football. (26 percent of women versus 46 percent of men). (figure 10)

Holiday Stress 12


Figure 10: Thanksgiving Day Activities by Gender (percent responding very likely)

46
32
35
41
26
52
66
70
0 20 40 60 80
Watch football
Shop for food
Cook
Clean dirty dishes
Women
Men
Thanksgiving Day activities (by gender)
On Thanksgiving Day, how likely is it that you will do each of the following activities? (percent responding very likely)

Men are more likely than women to permit themselves to relax during the holidays. While 41
percent of men strongly agree that they feel like they can relax during the holidays, only a
quarter (27 percent) of women feel this way. (figure 11)
Holiday Stress 13


Figure 11: Holiday Opportunities to Relax By Gender (percent responding)
41
27
34
11
17
14
100 80 60 40 20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Men
Women
Total
Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree
During the holidays, I feel like I can relax.
Relaxing during the holidays (by gender)
66
59
73 26
41
34

People in the Lower Middle Income Bracket Face More Stress Because of Financial Pressures
Lower middle income people in the United States (household income $30,000-$50,000k) face a
perfect storm of financial pressures during the holidays. Money and work are sources of
concern for this group year round, but during the holiday season, money concerns become
amplified. Commercialism during the holidays takes a special toll with this group. Lower middle
income individuals worry about building up credit card debt and whether they will have enough
money to afford the holidays. This, in turn, impacts the stress they feel during the holiday
season.
People who are lower middle income ($30,000-$50,000 household income) are more likely
to report an increase in stress during the holidays. Half (53 percent) of people in this
income range feel their stress increases during the holidays, versus 31 percent of people
with lower incomes and 40 percent of people who have household incomes over $50,000.
(figure 12)

Holiday Stress 14


Figure 12: Holiday Stress Change by Income (percent responding)
31
9
60
53
42
40
52
40
9
51
5 7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Increases Decreases Stays the same
Less than $30k $30k to $50k $50k to $75k $75k or more
Holiday stress change (by income)
In general, during the holidays would you say the level of stress in your life increases, decreases, or stays about the same?

Lower middle income individuals feel stress from a lack of money (67 percent say it often or
sometimes causes them stress during the holidays) and credit card debt (44 percent
often/sometimes causes them stress). This group is also particularly stressed by the
commercialism and hype that surrounds the holidays (60 percent say it often/sometimes
causes them stress). (figure 13)
Holiday Stress 15


Figure 13: Financial Stressors by Income (percent responding often or
sometimes)
78
44
28
67
60
44
63
60
39
48
52
37
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Lack of money Commericalism or hype Increasing my credit card debt
Less than $30k $30k to $50k $50k to $75k $75k or more
Financial stressors
I am going to read you a list of things that some people find stressful about the holidays. How often do each of the following
cause you stress during the holidays?

Financial concerns at work drive the stress for lower middle income people during the
holidays. People in the lower income brackets are much more likely than people in higher
brackets to cite the impact of pay in their stress levels. For example, 36 percent of people
with $30,000-$50,000 feel they wont get paid enough to afford the holidays, versus 27
percent of people with $50,000-$75,000 and 17 percent of those with $75,000 or more.
Stress Management Around the Holidays
Focusing on the positive aspects of the holidays may result in people underestimating the
effects of stress during the holidays. Around the holidays, people say they are not engaging in
different activities to manage their stress, but the data suggest otherwise. First, people are more
likely to engage in unhealthy behavior and to report sedentary activities like watching TV and
sleep as strategies used to manage their stress. Second, people are more likely to report that
they eat and drink. Some of this may be linked to specific holiday celebrations, but a notable
increase in comfort eating can be seen around the holidays, combined with an availability of
candy and sweets. On the other hand, people in the United States are likely to reconnect with
their faith during the holidays, and they are more likely to mention church attendance as a
means to reducing stress.
Holiday Stress 16

Most people in the United States feel they are doing little different during the holidays than
other times of the year to manage their stress. The vast majority of individuals (81 percent)
say they do nothing different to manage their stress during the holidays.
When asked in an open ended question what people do differently during the holidays to
manage their stress, many people say they use sedentary activities (43 percent) like
sleeping, and watching TV or movies. Women are more likely than men to report engaging
in these kinds of activities. (figure 14)

Figure 14: Sedentary Activities by Gender (percent responding)
Sedentary activities during the holidays
31
18
Total
35
20
Women
28
Watch TV/Play video games/Movies/
Listen to music
15 Relax/Nap/Sleep more
Men
Open-Ended Question: What do you do differently during the holiday season to manage your stress?

Inactivity is more likely to be mentioned as a stress-reducing strategy during the holidays
than other times of the year. Most people in the United States report playing or listening to
music (88 percent during the holidays versus 79 percent during the year). People are also
more likely to report doing nothing during the holidays (49 percent, versus 36 percent
during the year). In this context, doing nothing can be a good thing as well as a bad thing.
It can simply mean time relaxing or being unproductive, which can be a welcome respite if
people are leading hectic, busy lives. However, it can also imply inactivity and inaction.
(figure 15)
Holiday Stress 17


Figure 15: Stress Relieving Activities During the Year versus the Holidays (percent
responding)
Stress relief activities
68 69 Exercise or walking more than 30 minutes
56 38 Eating
30 18 Drinking alcohol
23
54
71
70
79
January 2006
24 Meditation or yoga
68 Going to church or religious services
71 Reading
76 Prayer
88 Listening to music
October 2006
October 2006: Now I am going to read you a list of things some people do to relieve stress during the holidays.
How likely are you to use each of these as a way to relieve stress during the holidays? Would you say very likely,
somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at all likely?
*Value denotes percent of respondents answering very likely and somewhat likely
J anuary 2006: Now I am going to read you a list of things some people do to relieve stress. How likely are you to
use each of these as a way to relieve stress? Would you say very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at
all likely?

Food and drink are a big part of may holiday celebrations. However, people also are more
likely to turn to food as a means to reduce stress during the holiday season (56 percent
report eating to reduce stress, versus 38 percent during the year). Alcohol consumption is
also increasingly cited as a stress reducer around the holidays (30 percent versus 18
percent during the year). (figure 15, 16)

Holiday Stress 18


Figure 16: Stress Relieving Eating and Drinking during the Holidays, by gender
(percent responding very/somewhat likely)
Eating and drinking as stress relievers during the holidays, by gender
23
24
0
20
40
60
Women Men
9
11
0
20
40
60
Women Men
Drinking Alcohol
Eating
28
32
57
55
Now I am going to read you a list of things some people do to relieve stress during the holidays. How likely
are you to use each of these as a way to relieve stress during the holidays? Would you say very likely,
somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at all likely?
Very likely (men) Very likely (women) Somewhat likely (women) Somewhat likely (men)

Part of the problem with the food and drink is that these behaviors may happen repeatedly
over the season, rather than being limited to a few days a year. Food, especially treats,
seem ubiquitous during the holiday season whether at work or at home; 85 percent agree
cookies and candy are always around (67 percent strongly). Given the access, people in the
United States are likely to be snacking more often than they realize around the holidays.
Comfort eating increases during the holidays. During the year, one in four people in the
United States agrees that when I am feeling down or facing a problem, I turn to food to help
me feel better. During the holiday season, this percentage increases to one in three people
in the United States. (figure 17)
Comfort eating increases among both men and women, but is more common among
women. During the holidays, 41 percent of women agree that they eat for comfort
(compared with 31 percent during the year). Among men, 25 percent report comfort eating
(compared with 19 percent during the year). (figure 17)

Holiday Stress 19


Figure 17: Stress Eating During the Year versus the Holidays by Gender (percent
responding strongly agree/somewhat agree)
19
31
25
25
41
33
0 10 20 30 40 50
Men
Women
Total
Men
Women
Total
Stress eating (by gender)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: When I am feeling down or am facing a problem, I turn to food
to help me feel better.
October
2006
January
2006
*Value denotes percent of respondents answering total agree

On the other hand, some healthy habits increase during the holidays. People in the United
States feel that they reconnect with their faith during the holidays (70 percent agree, 40
percent strongly agree). This may happen due to the religious nature of some of the
holidays, but it can also serve as an important antidote to the commercialism of the season.
During the holidays, individuals are more likely to engage in spiritual practices to manage
their stress. Many people in the United States report that they use prayer to manage their
stress (76 percent during the holidays versus 70 percent during the year). People in the
United States are also more likely to report attending religious services as a way to manage
their stress (68 percent during the holidays versus 54 percent during the year).
Holiday Stress 20

Celebrating the New Year
Refreshed from the festivities of the holidays, the New Year presents hope for better things to
come. Many people in the United States have clear aspirations about what they can achieve for
themselves and for their families in the future. Most of those hopes pertain to self-improvement.
Above all, people in the United States want to improve themselves in the New Year. Most
commonly, individuals want to get healthier (31 percent mention), however, many also
mention wanting to lose weight (21 percent mention). Finances are a common goal, as 26
percent of individuals wish to get their finances in line (26 percent mention). And, especially
in the context of the family celebrations that happen in the holidays, many wish to improve
their relationships, either by getting closer to family (19 percent mention) or by finding or
improving their relationship with a significant other (14 percent mention). (figure 18)

Figure 18: New Years Resolutions (percent responding)
New Years resolutions
4
4
11
12
14
19
21
26
31
0 10 20 30 40
Find a less stressful job
Find more affordable housing
Pursue further education
Find a better paying job
Get into a new relationship or improve my
relationship
Get closer to my family
Lose weight
Get my finances in order
Improve my health
Now, I am going to read you a list. Which of the following would you most like to accomplish in the New Year?

Less commonly mentioned on the list of priorities are aspects of work. Only 12 percent of
people in the United States mention wanting to find a better job, and only 4 percent aim to
find a job with less stress in the New Year. For the most part this is because people feel
comfortable that they know what is coming from their jobs. Relatively few people worry that
they will be laid off after the holidays (9 percent) or fail to meet year end expectations (20
percent).

Holiday Stress 21


Conclusion
It is the holiday season, and for many people in the United States, that means a time to splurge.
The holidays can be a hectic time, where shopping, cooking, and party planning get added to
the list of things to do. People wonder where they will find the time and money to get everything
done. It is during these times that many people experience an increase in stress that can detract
from the celebrations and downtime that they seek. Many individuals, but especially women, fall
into practices like comfort eating (because food is always around) or sedentary activity (because
they are more likely to have time off work) to manage stress. Women in particular need to be
mindful that their responsibilities may have more stressful consequences than they realize, and
that they are reacting to the stress in unhealthful ways, like eating and not permitting
themselves to relax.
Family relationships are top of mind during the holidays. However, work is a big driver behind
concern and still atop the list of lifes stressors. It is jobs that may or may not provide enough
income to create the perfect holiday, and it is jobs that present challenges to spending time with
the family.

Holiday Stress 22


Appendix A: Methodology

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner designed and administered this telephone survey conducted by
professional interviewers. The survey reached 786 adults, 18 years or older. The survey was
conducted October 2-5, 2006. Telephone numbers were generated by a random digit dial
process, thereby allowing access to all listed and unlisted phones. The sample was stratified by
state. The data were weighted by gender, age, race and education to ensure an accurate
reflection of the population. The sample size with these weights applied is 786.

Appendix B: Author Biographies

Anna Greenberg
Anna Greenberg is Vice President of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.
Greenberg advises campaigns, advocacy organizations and
foundations in the United States. She is a leading polling expert and
has been called one of the smartest of the younger Democratic
consultants.

Jennifer Berktold
Jennifer Berktold advises non-profits, foundations, and campaigns
on public attitudes on a variety of political and sociological issues.
Berktold has a background in social science research and survey
methodology drawn from the academic, non-profit, and for profit
sectors.

Holiday Stress: Key Findings

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Holiday Stress: Key Findings

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